The Solomon Islands, consisting of more than 900 islands, are already suffering from the effects of climate change. The country faces rising sea levels (projected to increase by up to 89 cm by 2090 under high-emission scenarios) along with intensifying storms and coastal erosion. Between 1999 and 2018, the Solomon Islands ranked as the 65th most affected country by extreme weather events.
In addition to these threats, there is a hidden danger: the ocean is slowly becoming more acidic. This puts coral reefs and marine ecosystems at risk, vital for the local economy and providing food. Recent global models estimate that the pH in the southwest Pacific has decreased by 0.06 since preindustrial times. Leisz’s (2009) projections showed that by 2040, ocean acidification will begin to impact the areas around the Solomon Islands.
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In response to these growing threats, efforts are intensifying in the country to equip local scientists and institutions with the tools they need to monitor and adapt to ocean acidification. A recent five-day training held at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) in Honiara marked a milestone in this journey.
Delivered by the Pacific Community, in partnership with The Ocean Foundation, the training brought together ocean experts from government, agencies and SINU. The training was led by Kim Currie and Miriama Vuiyasawa, experts in Ocean acidification at the Pacific Islands Ocean Acidification Centre (PIOAC), which SPC hosts.
The workshop aimed to improve participants’ skills and provide them with the latest tools to support ocean acidification research. They received practical training on how to use the “Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network in a Box kit,” a key toolkit that helps researchers and coastal communities collect and analyse ocean water samples for pH and total alkalinity, and to determine aragonite saturation.
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Initiatives like this training are essential to create a proactive scientific community as climate change and ocean acidification still threaten the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands are working towards preserving their marine ecosystems, food security, and cultural legacy by empowering local specialists with the newest technologies and expertise.
The Pacific Community, 3 April 2025. Full article.
